Genetic introgression and speciation of Heliconius hecalesia (Hewitson [1854]) (Lepidoptera: Heliconiinae) in hybridization areas in western Colombia

Objective: to clarify the taxonomic status of Heliconius gynaesia and H. longarena within the "hecalesia" group and to know the genetic and geographical delimitation of the subspecies. Methodology: direct observations were made in the field in the distribution areas of the different subspecies of H. hecalesia in Colombia. To compare the different morphotypes, genetic crossings were carried out in greenhouse conditions between the populations of H. hecalesia hecalesia from the middle Magdalena river, with the populations of H. hecalesia longarena from the Choco biogeographic region in western Colombia. Result: the genetic crosses of the different phenotypes obtained from the same parental crossing and backcrosses are illustrated and discussed, of which it was possible to reconstruct the gynaesia and ernestus forms, which are consistent with the pattern of coloration to the type specimens. All the phenotypes studied are involved in a new mimetic complex with Tithorea tarricina and Neruda godmani, which is described in this article. The reproductive isolation of the populations of southwestern Colombia that is manifested by hybrid sterility and unfeasibility in artificial crosses, provides strong evidence and support for the recognition of H. longarena n. comb as a good species as part of this study. H. gynaesia is placed in synonymy n. syn with H. longarena because it is a natural hybrid.